PROGRAM
The Playback Fellowship
The Playback Fellowship is a 10-week intensive program that develops talented young people into business-ready music industry professionals. Through hands-on learning, industry immersion, and 1-1 mentorship, fellows build technical skills, professional competencies, and a sense of self to thrive in today’s music landscape.
The Playback Fellowship partners with frontline organizations and city agencies working directly with our youth. These partners bring decades of community trust, deep relationships, and intimate knowledge of community needs and realities.
Together, we’re building durable opportunity pipelines. Our community partners identify youth ready for professional growth and maintain open channels for ongoing collaboration, while TPF delivers industry knowledge, mentorship, and professional experiences. This collaboration combines established community expertise with music industry access - creating pathways together.
We’re proud to work alongside:
Brownsville Community Justice Center (BCJC)
Sony Music Entertainment
New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
Living Redemption
Department of Youth + Community Development (DYCD)
Program Structure & Support
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Launched with Sony Music Entertainment as our inaugural host and seed funder, with curriculum developed alongside industry leaders.
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Each fellow is paired with an active music industry professional for 1-1 guidance throughout the program and beyond.
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Dedicated guidance counselors and program facilitators provide academic, professional, and personal development support.
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From A&R pitch sessions to global market analysis, personal branding workshops to industry field trips, our curriculum bridges creative passion with business acumen.
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A&R and talent identification
Marketing strategy and campaign development
Financial planning and budget management
Global market analysis
Professional development and networking
Creative direction and brand strategy
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Our capstone ‘Artist Playback’ project has fellows reimagine launch strategies for previously released music, treating it like they’re hearing it for the first time. They develop comprehensive strategies integrating marketing, A&R, creative direction, and budget planning, then present to actual music executives. This creates both presentation experience and a professional case study they can showcase to future employers - often their first industry portfolio piece.
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Fellows graduate with industry connections, practical experience, and a professional portfolio.